Monday, March 12, 2007

Tribute to a Loyal Friend

We had to put Savannah down today after a short illness -- lymphoma. It had already spread, and we couldn't stand the idea of seeing her suffer, so we reluctantly concluded "sooner rather than later."

Although not known for her intelligence, it would be difficult to imagine a sweeter dog. And although she had a window-rattling bark, she was as harmless as a cow. I don't think she'd have even known how to be aggressive, the fearsome pictures of her goofing with her late brother, Finn, notwithstanding.

She was perfect with the baby, accepting her demotion with loyalty and grace: "Hey, your baby is my baby." I'm glad he's not old enough to know he's lost his best friend.

It's going to be strange being without a dog for the first time in 17 years...

Mrs. G is pretty broken up. Remember her and Savannah in your prayers, and let's hope there's a heaven for good and gentle dogs.

Mrs G and Bob, So sorry to hear about the loss of the Great Good Dane Savannah. We know how very sad it is to loose a precious pal. Recently we had to put down our eighteen year twin dogs who we have cherished from puppyhood. They are memorialized in lovely wooden boxes full of their ashes with nameplates. These boxes are presently serving as bookends for One Cosmos, Meditations and several other books. Even Merlin the parrot grieved for them. As Will once said( I think in was Will), you only have to look in the eyes of a loved dog to see God and God spelled backwards is Dog. Is it no wonder the muzzie's are such a mess - they won't even let a seeing eye dog in a taxi Our prayers are with you.

Aeschylus said "There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief", and it is true, bitter-sweet to be sure... but pictures like that sure bring the sweet back to the fore don't they?

I remember how tough it was on my Dad when he had to put Lassie down (hey, my brother & I were 6 & 4 when we named her, what name did you expect?), I haven't had to make that decision yet with any of our pets, but Zeuss is getting on in years and the time is coming...

It's good to remember that the source files for pictures like that are there in our heads & hearts... and you got to believe they're in Fido's too.

mggupIf only all men (and women, naturally) were as true with their friendship as a dog, the world would be filled with Racoons. Always there, good times and bad.

I have three; a Chow-Huskie about 12 years old, a Doberman with a bum leg, and a mixed hound of some sort, I took pity on him and brought him home with me last St. Patrick's weekend. He was lost and starving, maybe 6 weeks old, I believe he is going to make a good companion. Who knows, maybe he'll return the favor someday.

The Dobie, Sadie, did her part about 5 years ago, waking me at 3 AM when my shop was burning. The old lady, Abigail, ran a would-be burglar up a tree and waited for the Sheriff to come.

I love to take walks with them, we are in the country, so they run free. It's a good time to ponder Bob's post and do a little communing. So, Bob, do you believe they have a spirit, and if so, how does it compare with ours?

So sorry to hear about Savannah, Bob & Mrs. G.I dread the day when I'll have to wake up without either of mine. I do believe all good dogs go to heaven; anything else would be inconceivable. I expect, some day, she'll be the first to welcome you Home.

There is sorrow enough in the natural wayFrom men and women to fill our day;And when we are certain of sorrow in store,Why do we always arrange for more?Brothers and Sisters, I bid you bewareOf giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buyLove unflinching that cannot lie --Perfect passion and worship fedBy a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.Nevertheless it is hardly fairTo risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permitsAre closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,And the vet's unspoken prescription runsTo lethal chambers or loaded guns,Then you will find -- it's your own affair --But . . . you've given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!)When the spirit hat answered your every moodIs gone -- wherever it goes -- for good,You will discover how much you care,And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We've sorrow enough in the natural way,When it comes to burying Christian clay.Our loves are not given, but only lent,At compound interest of cent per cent.Though it is not always the case, I believe,That the longer we've kept'em, the more do we grieve;

For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,A short-time loan is as bad as a long --So why in -- Heaven (before we are there)Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

Each spring I get a new addition to my backyard ecosystem. Last year was a turtle. Yesterday, I noticed a pair of mourning doves and their baby chicks. I will choose to see them as a tribute to both Savannah and my dog, Sabrina (who I also had to put to sleep in Dec. due to illness). They may be gone but never forgotten...

Your grief is shared. I think the main thing now is to get more dogs. When we lost our perfect dog, we got first one, then another, and now we struggle to manage with three. They are far from perfect, and sometimes serve only to remind us of how perfect our lost one was, but we are at least providing a home for others like her. They are her living memorial.

As far as heaven goes, we know from Scripture that the dog has a living spirit, a "nefesh chaya," so we may be certain of encountering our canine friends on the other planes in which our real lives continue.

The final chapter of the Mahabharata might be a welcome study at this time.

By the way, I don't want to discourage anyone from getting a Dane, which is a wonderful breed. They don't usually live this short a time -- more like 10 -12 years. From what I understand, the lymphoma is not breed-specific, but a random and equal-opportunity kiler. We've had two so far. Perhaps we'll get another right away... After all, a boy needs a dog... My son does too.

I cannot say I've ever lived without one or more dogs. I may have already commented on my favorite version of Genesis which says In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve and when He saw how miserable they were He gave them a dog. Volumes have been written on the relationship of Man and Dog. I have learned from years of getting and losing one that the death of a dog is the price we pay for the privilege of getting to love them.

Mr.and Mrs. G, May your sorrow move through you gently.To the Maker of the Stars, thank you for giving us Dogs.

What About Bob?

Who spirals down the celestial firepole on wings of slack, seizes the wheel of the cosmic bus, and embarks upin a bewilderness adventure of higher nondoodling? Who, haloed be his gnome, loiters on the threshold of the transdimensional doorway, looking for handouts from Petey? Who, with his doppelgägster and testy snideprick, Cousin Dupree, wields the pliers and blowtorch of fine insultainment for the ridicure of assouls? Who is the gentleman loaffeur who yoinks the sword from the stoned philosopher and shoves it in the breadbasket of metaphysical ignorance and tenure? Whose New Testavus for the Restavus blows the locked doors of the empyrean off their rusty old hinges and sheds a beam of intense darkness on the world enigma? Who is the Biggest Fakir of the Vertical Church of God Knows What, channeling the roaring torrent of 〇 into the feeble stream of cyberspace? Who is the masked pandit who lobs the first water balloon out the motel window at the annual Raccoon convention? Who is your nonlocal partner in disorganized crimethink? Shut your mouth! But I'm talkin' about bʘb! Then we can dig it!

Goround ZerO:

Search and Ye Never Knows What Ye Might Find:

The Cosmic Area Rug:

The empty center is Beyond-Being. The circles are dimensions of Being. Your life is a path for the Spirit to pass from periphery to center. Thoughts and choices -- truth and virtue -- are the paving stones.

Only Error is Transmitted:

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Fuck You: War

Late last night, in search of light, I watched a ball of fire streak across the midnight sky. I watched it glow, then grow, then shrink, then sink into the silhouette of morning. As I watched it die, I said, ‘Hey, I’ve got a lot in common with that light.’ That’s right. I’m alive with the fire of my life, which streaks across my span of time and is seen by those who lift their eyes in search of light to help them though the long, dark night. --Nilsson

We see that yesterday is our birthday, today is our life, and tomorrow we are gone. So we have just one day to learn all we need to know, and that day is today. --Petey